Uncertain weather, the 52nd Marvejols-Mende half-marathon will take place in July 2025

La 52e édition du Marvejols-Mende aura lieu le dimanche 20 juillet 2025. Midi Libre – Archive Giacomo Italiano

After a 51st edition that was “successful but difficult to organize”, Jean-Claude Moulin, founder of the event, announced that he was throwing in the towel. Without its historic president, could the Legend continue? ? The answer is therefore yes, with a new board of directors ready to take up the challenge.

At the end of the 51st edition of the Marvejols-Mende half-marathon, which took place on Sunday July 21, 2024, Jean-Claude Moulin announced that he was throwing in the towel. At 73 years old and after more than half a century dedicated to running, the founder of the event did not hide his weariness.

The cause: a particularly difficult organization. "The most complicated since its creation in 1973", he assures. A question then arose: could the Legend continue without its historic president ? An extraordinary general meeting, which was held this Wednesday, September 25, 2024, had to decide.

Fourteen people already on the board of directors

The invitation was cause for concern.  "During this meeting, it will be decided whether or not to maintain the organization of this sporting event." The risk was therefore that no team would reform. To function, the Marvejols-Mende half-marathon association needs a board of directors of twelve to seventeen people.

Before the meeting even took place, thirteen volunteers had said they were ready to go again. The organization of the 52nd edition was therefore already almost assured. The last doubts were lifted when one of the key positions left vacant, that of head of security, found a taker. Jean-Philippe Hours will take on this heavy task.

Vacant positions

For the time being, the other members of the board of directors are: Bernard Angles, Marvejols manager; Henri Carrière and André Barbaux, supply managers; Sandrine Dinis, volunteer management; Rose Coudrier, guide management; Anne Moulin, elite, communication-publication and awards ceremony manager; Frédéric Mirman, IT and volunteer management manager; Pierre Boudet, merchant-partner relations; Gérard Molines, biker manager; Paul Labeaume, events and relay space manager; Yvette Privat, shop manager; Gilles Charade, Mende security; Eric Itié, logistics and resources management.

Valérie Lucas should organize the children's race and lend a hand to Anne Moulin for the prize-giving. Anne-Sophie Dinis will be in charge of accommodation. There are still some vacant positions, such as luggage, preparation of the evening, anti-doping control, supplies at Chabrits and La Planchette, as well as entertainment. For this last mission, Éric Itié assures it,  “the bulk of the investment is made a week before the race and during the weekend. It's a position that isn't too complicated." People who want to get involved in organizing the event must obviously contact the association.

Find a speaker in Mende

Jean-Pierre Buix, legendary speaker of Marvejols-Mende for over thirty years, who hosted the arrival of the event, hangs up the microphone. For the 52nd edition, the organizers will therefore have to find a voice, a talent but also an expert in the world of running to animate the prefecture city. On the subject, Jean-Claude Moulin, still president of the association that supports the event, salutes “a big name, who had some very good races like Marseille-Cassis”. On the other hand, there is good news from Marvejols, where Pierre Mournetas, also a loyal follower of the Legend for around thirty years and a great connoisseur of the discipline, will be on the starting line on Sunday 20 July 2025.

The ordinary general meeting ends November

A team is therefore already ready to work on the organization of the 52nd edition, which will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025. At the end of November, the ordinary general meeting will take place. During this meeting, a new office composed of a president, two vice-presidents, a general secretary and his deputy as well as a treasurer and his deputy will be elected. At this point, the page on Jean-Claude Moulin will definitively turn, and with it a whole section of the history of running.

Marvejols-Mende Half Marathon Association on the internet or by phone at 04 66 49 30 29.

Jean-Claude Moulin: “I have never run the Marvejols-Mende”

Jean-Claude Moulin will leave the presidency of Marvejols-Mende in November.

Jean-Claude Moulin spoke at the beginning of the extraordinary general meeting of the Marvejols-Mende association, which was held this Wednesday, September 25. While he reiterated that he will no longer take any responsibility for the organization of the event he founded in 1973, while remaining president until the next ordinary general meeting, he also detailed the job description for his successor, who will be appointed at the end of November.

“For fifty-two years, because I also count the Covid-19 year of 2020, I went there every day, even when I was working. I went there in the evening after work. It was an insurance for the staff and it allowed them to have an overview of everything that was happening. Because the president is responsible for everything and can be prosecuted legally. The bulk of the work is running meetings, finding volunteers for each position, and being mobilized during the race."

"The start has always been the major concern"

The 73-year-old also recalled the sacrifices that the position of president requires. “I have been running for fifty-six years. I have participated in more than 3,000 competitions. I have never run the Marvejols-Mende. On the big day, there are lots of things to manage,” like many unforeseen events. He notably returned to a tragic event. “The year when there was a death in Mende, on Avenue Foch, I was called straight away. That's normal. It was my role." And he also gave lighter examples. "On Sunday evening, if someone wants to get their meal reimbursed, they are also sent to the president."

Jean-Claude Moulin also insisted on a very specific point: the start. "For me, that has always been the major concern, even if it has always gone well. One year, we had a motorbike that wouldn't start. Another time, it was the lead car. Anne (Moulin, his daughter, Editor's note) had gotten on a motorbike and replaced him." The next president is therefore warned of the heavy responsibility that will weigh on his shoulders.

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